Indian Navy’s Push for Nuclear-Powered Attack Submarines (SSNs): Closing Undersea Gap with China

Indian Navy INS Kalvari at sea

The Indian Navy’s undersea combat capabilities, particularly in nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs), lag significantly behind those of China. To address this shortfall, the Indian government has approved the construction of two SSNs. This decision, though expensive, reflects the urgent need to counter the strategic advantages of China’s growing submarine fleet. These apex predators of undersea warfare are critical to ensuring a balanced power dynamic in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and beyond.

India’s submarine fleet is in stark contrast to China’s, with the latter boasting over 70 submarines, including 12 nuclear-powered ones. India, on the other hand, currently operates 19 submarines, only two of which are nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), designed solely for nuclear deterrence. This leaves a significant gap in India’s ability to project sustained underwater power.

After nearly five years of deliberation, the Indian Navy’s proposal for the construction of six SSNs was partially approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While the Navy initially sought six SSNs, the government has greenlighted only two, with a commitment to 90% indigenous content. The two submarines will be built at the Ship Building Centre (SBC) in Visakhapatnam, with each vessel estimated to cost around ₹15,000 crore ($1.8 billion).

The SSNs are expected to be commissioned by 2040, a long timeline that reflects the complexity and cost of nuclear submarine construction. Yet, these submarines are vital, as they are capable of stealth, high speed, and long endurance, allowing them to remain submerged for months at a time, far surpassing the capabilities of diesel-electric submarines, which rely on surface access for air intake and battery recharging.

The significance of SSNs for India cannot be overstated. Nuclear-powered attack submarines have the ability to operate far from their home ports for extended periods, making them ideal for protecting India’s interests across the Indian Ocean. Additionally, SSNs can serve as the ultimate underwater weapon against enemy SSBNs, protecting aircraft carrier groups, conducting anti-ship warfare, land attacks, and intelligence gathering.

As retired Indian Navy submariner Commodore Anil Jai Singh explained, “SSNs are a game changer. They are powerful platforms with stealth and unlimited endurance. They can remain underwater indefinitely and operate far away from the port for long periods and at high speeds. Armed with long-range missiles, they can change the shape of maritime battle.” His statement highlights how SSNs provide India with the capability to strike deep into enemy waters and carry out tactical missions that conventional submarines cannot perform.

Unlike SSBNs, which are tasked with nuclear deterrence and carry strategic nuclear weapons, SSNs do not carry nuclear warheads. Instead, their value lies in their tactical versatility and combat superiority in multiple domains of warfare.

India has experienced a gap in its SSN capabilities since the lease of the Russian Akula-class nuclear-powered submarine INS Chakra ended in 2021. The loss of INS Chakra left the Indian Navy without an SSN, and plans to lease another Akula-class submarine from Russia have been stymied by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and the global sanctions that followed. This has forced India to look inward for solutions, hastening the government’s approval for indigenous SSN construction.

The Akula-class submarine provided India with critical experience in operating nuclear-powered attack submarines. During one of its missions, INS Chakra reportedly slipped out of Visakhapatnam harbor and disappeared into the Bay of Bengal for over a month, showcasing India’s ability to deploy submarines in secret during times of heightened tension with China.

China’s rapid expansion of its submarine fleet is a major strategic challenge for India. The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) currently operates more than 70 submarines, including both SSNs and SSBNs, and is expected to grow to 80 submarines by 2035. China’s growing subsurface presence in the Indian Ocean Region, which includes frequent visits by PLAN submarines to ports in Sri Lanka and Pakistan, has raised alarm within India’s defense establishment.

The first significant stir came in 2014 when two PLAN submarines docked in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Two years later, a Chinese nuclear-powered submarine made its way to Karachi, Pakistan, marking a clear indication of China’s increasing underwater reach in India’s neighborhood. These developments, coupled with China’s ongoing infrastructure investments in ports across the Indian Ocean, have serious implications for India’s maritime security.

A US Naval Institute assessment suggests that China’s current nuclear submarine technology, while improving, still lags behind Western and Russian capabilities. The quietness of Chinese submarines, a critical factor in underwater stealth, is reportedly on par with Soviet-era designs from the 1970s. Nevertheless, China is determined to modernize its fleet and could soon pose a major threat to both US and Indian naval forces in the region.

While India has succeeded in building two SSBNs, INS Arihant and INS Arighat, with Russian assistance, it now aims to design and construct SSNs with a higher degree of indigenous expertise. India’s experience with nuclear submarine construction, especially the miniaturization of nuclear reactors, is largely credited to its Advanced Technology Vessel Project (ATVP), which powered the SSBNs with 83 MW reactors.

For the SSN program, India plans to develop more powerful boats, possibly with 190 MW reactors. France, a key defense partner, has emerged as a potential collaborator on this front. The French Naval Group, which is already building Scorpene-class diesel-electric submarines for India, could assist in designing and building SSNs. During Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Paris in 2023, the two nations agreed to cooperate on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), opening the door to further collaboration on naval reactors for SSNs.

France’s Barracuda-class SSNs, which are currently being built for the French Navy, could serve as a model for India’s future SSNs. Additionally, France remains one of the few countries with the capability and willingness to partner with India on such high-technology defense projects, especially as Australia, the US, and the UK focus on their trilateral AUKUS partnership.

The approval of India’s SSN program also reflects a broader strategic shift in naval priorities. The Indian Navy has reportedly put on hold its ambitious project to build a 65,000-ton Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC)-2 in favor of focusing resources on SSN development. While aircraft carriers are critical for power projection, SSNs provide a more flexible and survivable platform, especially in light of China’s growing naval strength.

SSNs, often described as “underwater fighter jets,” are crucial in maritime warfare. They can effectively hunt enemy SSBNs and play vital roles in protecting carrier battle groups. Their ability to operate in stealth for extended periods makes them ideal for long-range strike missions, anti-ship warfare, and intelligence gathering. The decision to prioritize SSNs underscores the importance of undersea warfare in India’s maritime strategy.

India’s 30-year submarine acquisition plan, which aims to induct 24 submarines by 2030, has faced several delays. Of the 18 planned diesel-electric submarines, only six Scorpene-class vessels have been inducted so far. The plan also includes the construction of six SSNs, but with the first indigenous SSN not expected before 2040, India’s submarine strength will remain limited in the short term.

However, the SSN program marks a significant step towards enhancing India’s naval power. With China’s naval expansion continuing unabated and its submarine fleet projected to grow in both size and capability, India’s ability to build and deploy its own SSNs will be critical in maintaining a balance of power in the Indo-Pacific region.

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